I had assumed that the #DisruptTexts movement was organic. But I recently discovered https://t.co/55JVkOeyO7, and I think that, in addition to publishers springing into action to meet market demand, they may possibly be playing a role in fostering abandonment of classics. 1/

Because, there is perhaps much less money to be made selling classics. 2/
I need to be VERY clear that I am wholly in favor of *expanding* the cannon and adding relevant, engaging texts for students in middle school, high school, and (of course) college. Students can and should read Baldwin, Marquez, Tan, Walker, Morrison, Malcolm X, and on and on. 3/
But this website suggests 'disrupting' so many valuable classics that one has to wonder if the interests of real education are being served.

For example, disrupt Shakespeare https://t.co/oLB38lXmRH

given "violence, misogyny, racism" in the texts. 4/
Disrupt "To Kill a Mockingbird"

https://t.co/7e020R5jaN

given Atticus Finch's alleged limitations and failings.

To be clear, few real persons have half the moral strength (& parenting skills) of the fictional Atticus Finch (Nelson Mandela or Sophie Scholl re the former?). 5/
Or disrupt "The Crucible"

https://t.co/LTSoRmjFK9

because doing so would stand in opposition to "mass hysteria & paranoia."

The irony is astonishing.

If you don't think young people can be taught, or learn from, The Crucible, you really have drunk the Kool Aid. 6/
What would the authors of this #DisruptTexts website replace such books with? 7/
“Our team is excited to share that we have eight teaching & learning guides for texts [e.g., “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi] we believe can be integrated into classrooms tomorrow. We are thrilled to collaborate with Penguin to bring these guides to teachers everywhere.” 8/
Of course students can read these books. https://t.co/ng4ZPiPINO

I know it can be hard to find books that engage the hearts and minds of young people.

But I do have a problem with the *reasons* offered for why classic texts are not valuable. 9/
And I have endless confidence in the capacity of good teachers to help students to understand and work through what it means to read an 'old' text, to critique it, to still see its value (incl its foundational impact on our society), and to rise up to write & say new things. 10/
In the end, I think this is a question of degree and balance. Teach The Crucible side by side with Beloved. To me, that is what real education is all about. 11/

More from For later read

Wow, Morgan McSweeney again, Rachel Riley, SFFN, Center for Countering Digital Hate, Imran Ahmed, JLM, BoD, Angela Eagle, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, Jon Cruddas, Trevor Chinn, Martin Taylor, Lord Ian Austin and Mark Lewis. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut 24 tweet🧵

Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, launched the organisation that now runs SFFN.
The CEO Imran Ahmed worked closely with a number of Labour figures involved in the campaign to remove Jeremy as leader.

Rachel Riley is listed as patron.
https://t.co/nGY5QrwBD0


SFFN claims that it has been “a project of the Center For Countering Digital Hate” since 4 May 2020. The relationship between the two organisations, however, appears to date back far longer. And crucially, CCDH is linked to a number of figures on the Labour right. #LabourLeaks

Center for Countering Digital Hate registered at Companies House on 19 Oct 2018, the organisation’s only director was Morgan McSweeney – Labour leader Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. McSweeney was also the campaign manager for Liz Kendall’s leadership bid. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut

Sir Keir - along with his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney - held his first meeting with the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM). Deliberately used the “anti-Semitism” crisis as a pretext to vilify and then expel a leading pro-Corbyn activist in Brighton and Hove

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